Shopping with
Luke Enfinger
Okeechobee at Home
with Terri & Basil Coule

Dear Friends
&Neighbors,
Raulerson Hospital celebrated its 32nd year of
proudly serving Okeechobee County and the
surrounding areas. We are a 100-bed acute
care facility dedicated to providing local access
to a full range of high-quality, comprehensive
medical care and surgical services, to meet the
health care needs of our growing community.
Our dedicated staff is available 24 hours a day,
7 days a week, to serve you.
To ensure our community’s access to the
latest medical technology, we are constantly
upgrading our facility. During the past year
we have initiated many processes and best
practices to ensure patients are cared for
more efficiently in a comfortable and safe
environment.
In addition, we are committed to your good
health and the health of our patients and
employees. Over the next several months
Raulerson Hospital will be joining the growing
trend of hospitals across the county to become
smoke free. You will be hearing much more
about this in the near future and we’re hoping
this move will inspire many of our community
members to stop smoking.
Our Goal is to exceed your expectations
as we strive to be your first choice for all
your medical needs. At Raulerson Hospital,
patients and their families are recognized as
valued members of our health care team who
have important perspectives, feedback and
solutions to share. We encourage and welcome
your feedback. Please feel free to contact us
or stop by anytime with your comments and
suggestions – my door is always open.
Robert Lee
Chief Executive Officer

2 | Spring 2011

OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

4 | Spring 2011

OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com Spring 2011 |

5

Located in Okeechobee Florida, this unique owners resort is worth a visit.
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destination you will want to call home. With everything you could want right at your doorstep, you may
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Silver Palms RV Village offers resort-style five-star amenities that you can enjoy every
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Publisher’s Note
volume

5, number 1 |Spring 2011

publisher/managing editor

Maureen Budjinski
creative director

Bridgette Waldau
copy editor

Jason Budjinski

Welcome to year five of Okeechobee The Magazine. I
am very happy to have seen more people in Okeechobee this season than any other in recent years. Do
you think the nasty northern winter weather had anything to do with it? We surely live in paradise.

office manager

Phyllis Dwyer
bookkeeping

Carol Lieberman
account executives

Tamra Cunningham
Gail Lockwood
senior photographer

Rafael Pacheco
contributing photographers

Sharon Cannon
Felicia Maxwell
Sandra Pearce
writers

Jason Budjinski
Raye Deusinger
Deborah Welky
contributors

Charles Murphy
Joyce Murphy
Michael Shellen
distribution

Miracle Hall
Okeechobee The Magazine

111 NE 2nd Street
Okeechobee, FL 34972
Phone: (863) 467-0054

www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com

Maureen Budjinski
president

Within this issue’s pages you will meet children’s book author Jan Day. While
many authors seek inspiration in remote locations far from home, Day need not
go any farther than her backyard in Okeechobee, where she has dreamt up adventures to share with children and mystery novels for adults. Also in this issue meet
Okeechobee’s own cowboy Gordie Peer, who acted as a stuntman in many a TV
and movie Western. Full of character and history, Peer’s story will bring back
memories for us old-timers and open the eyes of the younger readers as well.
Speaking of young people, this month we feature the inspirational story of LeAnna
Cotton, who doesn’t let illness get in the way of fulfilling her goals in academics,
athletics, work and volunteerism. Learn how this Okeechobee High School senior
has excelled in all areas and plans to enter the medical field and truly make a difference.
Okeechobee was rich with exciting special events this season, including the FLW
EverStart Series Tournament, the PhilFiesta, Battle of Okeechobee, Speckled
Perch Festival, the American Red Cross “Red is for Love” gala, Top of the Lake Art
Fest and more. One very exciting event was the kickoff for the Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee County, which was standing room only. We enjoy “showing
off” our community and try to cover as many events as we can each issue.
By the time you read this, some of our northern friends will be getting ready to
leave. To them, I want to say thank-you for coming and hope you come back
next year. Seasonal residents who want to continue to read about Okeechobee the
rest of the year can fill out and mail in a subscription form located in the back of
this issue. And for our year-round residents, I hope you also enjoy another year of
Okeechobee The Magazine — your magazine.
Sincerely,

Joshua I. Manning
vice president

Barry S. Manning
chairman & ceo
Okeechobee The Magazine, is published quarterly in Okeechobee, Florida. Copyright 2011, all rights reserved by Okeechobee The Magazine, LLC. Contents may not be reproduced in
any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts
no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the
space occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The
publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All
submitted materials subject to editing.

Each issue, Okeechobee The Magazine sends a local resident out into the community to visit local retailers on
a $10,000 shopping spree. To help narrow the choices, each retailer selects three items for our shopper to consider.
The shopping spree is imaginary; we don’t really fork over the cash. However, we do get a great look at what’s available
at area stores.

Luke Enfinger was born and raised in Okeechobee and has been
a part of the Big Lake community his entire life. A product of the
Okeechobee school system, Enfinger graduated from Okeechobee
High School in 2004. He earned a bachelor of science degree in
marketing with a minor in religious studies from Southeastern
University in Lakeland, Fla. He served as student body president
for the 2007-08 school year.
Two weeks after graduating from college, Enfinger married his
high school sweetheart and best friend Katie Garner. Their
daughter Adelaide Joy was born September 2009. Also
upon graduating, Enfinger became the Inventory
and drive-through manager for his father’s company,
Superior Water Works. When he is not ordering
and organizing, Enfinger is busy designing ads
for the company.

where he serves as one of the worship leaders and was the interim
youth pastor. Enfinger is also in his third year of M2L’s Joshua’s
Men program.
Currently, Enfinger is in the process of launching Big Picture Coffee Company, a coffee-roasting company that is devoted
to buying green coffee from farmers and missionaries in thirdworld countries at fair trade and bringing the beans back to the
United States to roast and distribute.
Okeechobee native Luke Enfinger began his
shopping spree at Fly-N-Hi Enterprises
(863-763-8866), located at 4375 U.S.
Highway 441 South.

Enfinger is active with More 2 Life Ministries,

Although Luke was not quite
ready to turn his 2002 Nissan
XTerra into a monster truck, he

(Above) A new single-wheel dual rim
for one-ton trucks.
(Left) A Chevrolet monster truck displayed in the Fly-N-Hi showroom.

was ready to modify it and make it look better on the road.
With the help of owners Richard Sampson and Michelle
Crawford, Luke chose a set of 74MB Advanti Racing Roccia
20 X 9.5 rims (four at $190.99 each), a set of 60,000mile Falken HT 295/50/R20 tires (four at $166.98 each),
and had them balanced and mounted ($83).
“Buying better tires may cost you more initially but in the
long run they save you money because they last longer,” Richard told Luke.
Richard also showed Luke the alignment machine that Fly-NHi uses and told him about some of the other services they do
besides work on monster trucks.
Luke completed his truck makeover with Chrome vent visors
($89.99), a Chrome Triple Trumpet Train Horn Kit ($950
installed), a Chrome bug shield ($139.99 with shipping and
$87.50 to install) and a Chrome Billett front grill insert
($599, plus $11 shipping and handling, and $70 to install).
With an estimation of three to four days to complete the
installations, Luke was off to his second stop.
Dave’s Mattress Outlet (863-357-3700) located at 104 SE
Park Street is a new business that opened in February.

Luke choose a new bed, not only for Luke and his wife Katie
but a “big girl” bed for their 18-month-old daughter Adelaide.
With savings of 50 to 80 percent on brand names like Sealy,
Simmons and Stearns and Foster, Luke felt he made a good
choice in choosing the factory direct outlet. Luke wasted no
time checking out the line of Vivon memory foam mattresses.
While Luke shopped, Dave told him that local delivery in
Okeechobee County is only $25 and for an additional $25
they will set up the new bed and take away the old bed.
Luke chose a Vivon Plush 13-inch memory foam mattress ($899) in queen size. Then he added a queen-size brown
leather frame that has 10 inches of storage under the mattress ($399) and two standard therapeutic pillows ($55 ea.
$110 both).
The bed Luke chose for Adelaide was a pink Jubilee twin
youth mattress ($199), which comes with its own standard
therapeutic pillow and a twin-space saver frame ($60).
Luke was feeling good about his choice of 20-year warranty mattresses as he headed over to Blue Heron Public
Golf Course (863-467-1651) to meet owners Keller and Ken
Orender. 

Owners Dave and Wendy San Martin were happy to help

(Above) Dave San Martin shows Luke the storage space under a
bed frame.
(Below) Luke tries out the new memory foam mattress offered at
the Mattress Outlet.

The two brothers are working at the 1925 SE Ninth Ave.
location to make golf enjoyable and appealing to everyone.
“We want to make people comfortable,” Ken told Luke. “We
are geared toward laidback, blue-collar types.”
The brothers have a background working and managing in some
of the top 10 clubs and are working to reach a new generation of golfers while embracing people who already know and
enjoy the game.
Kenny and Keller are building their business around giving
back to the community. Each week Blue Heron is involved
in something for the community.
After hitting a few balls on the golf course, Luke was ready
to dust off his old clubs and give golf another chance. Keller
quoted Luke a price of $107 to refurbish and put new grips
on Luke’s set of Wilson irons. With the incentive of free lessons for his wife and in-laws, Luke chose two family packages ($799 each and single $999) for him and his wife as well
as his mother and father-in-law. Luke decided that a 2009
E-Z Go golf cart ($2,000) would make it easier for the foursome to get around the challenging course that was built in
the 1980s.
Promising to stop by for a round of night golf that Friday,
Luke was off to Cowboys for lunch. A local favorite, Cowboys BBQ & Steak Co. (863-467-1104) is located at 102
SW 14th Street. Owner Jim McCoin, who has competed in

barbecue competitions for years, opened Cowboys after R.J.
Gator’s closed in that location.
McCoin wanted to open a local spot where people could
come to Okeechobee and find out the history and happenings in the community. There are many pictures brought
in by locals that decorate the walls and show how people in
Okeechobee live.
The community-minded owner has chef Heath Waldron,
who oversees the four locations of Cowboys as well as
McCoin’s other restaurant, Skipjacks, and ensures the
quality of the food.
From the Cowboy Egg Rolls, conceived by McCoin’s team
while competing in the barbecue circuit, to the 20 flavors of
chicken wings and mouthwatering steak, Cowboys offers a
variety of delicious meals that are reasonably priced. Starting
his meal with the Cowboy Egg Rolls, Luke was pleasantly surprised at how good the wonton wrapped pork and slaw was.
Jim personally chose a buffalo chicken wrap with bacon
($8.49) for Luke that came with steamed broccoli and a dipping sauce. “It has a little bit of a kick to it,” Luke said. “I
like it.”
From a full-service bar to drinks served in mason jars, Cowboys has atmosphere. O

Okeechobee Main Street hosted its annual Christmas Festival
and Parade on Dec. 11 at Flagler Park. The park was full throughout the day, and at sundown the parade route was lined with residents and visitors as the lighted floats passed by.
New Testament Baptist Youth Group members Laura Mataushek, Sarah
Vetter, Colton Etchison and Tiffany Etchison sell Christmas trees and other
items to raise money for future trips.

Whoville, one of the many floats in the parade.

Penny Cunningham and Michael Micco.

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www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com Spring 2011 |

19

Community Event
Community
Event

By Sharon Cannon

Battle of Okeechobee
Okeechobee Battlefield Friends Inc. held the annual re-enactment of the Battle of Okeechobee Feb. 5 and 6 at the Okeechobee Battlefield State Park. The
event, which was fought on Christmas Day 1837, commemorates the largest
and fiercest battle in the Seminole wars. Representatives from the Seminole
Tribe and other exhibitors were on hand to offer alligator demonstrations,
childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities and music for a fun-filled family day. Visit www.okeechobeebattlefield.com for more info.

4. Seminole Indians on horseback.
5. The alligator demonstration, featuring Seminole Ian Tyson, is always popular with the
crowd.
6. Christa Luna looks on as her son Alex enjoys
painting at the craft booth.

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20 | Spring 2011

OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

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FLW EverStart Tournament Opens On Lake Okeechobee
The opening tournament of the FLW Outdoors EverStart Series took place
Jan. 6-8 at C. Scott Driver Park in Okeechobee County. Presented by the
Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council, the event brought 328
anglers (164 professional and 164 co-anglers) from across the United States to
compete in the first of four EverStart events in the Southern Division.

At daylight 164 boats prepare for the start of the 2011 tournament season
at C. Scott Driver Park on the Kissimmee River.

Boats line the shore as anglers take their catch to the stage.

Brandon Medlock of Lake Placid took fist place with a total of 63 lbs., 8 oz.
for his three-day catch, which awarded him $35,000. Rodney Treadaway of
Decatur, Ala., took first place as a co-angler with 37 lbs., 10 oz., which awarded him a new Ranger boat, motor and trailer. For additional results, articles
and information about getting involved in the sport of tournament fishing,
visit www.flwoutdoors.com. For more information about local events, call the
Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council at (863) 763-3959.

Cold temperatures and high winds could not keep the dedicated spectators away.

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22 | Spring 2011

OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

(Above) Brandon Medlock of Lake Placid shows off
his kicker bass to win the tournament.
(Below) Rodney Treadaway of Alabama wins first
place in the Co-Angler division.
Photo by Rob Newel

Implant Systems Our office utilizes four different implant
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The ninth annual Big Lake Bass Tournament to benefit the March of
Dimes took place Jan. 29 at Okee-Tantie marina. Sponsored by Seacoast
National Bank, the event saw 52 anglers and a field of 26 boats, making it the second-best year since 2002. Nineteen out of the 26 teams
returned with the five-fish limit, but it was Brock Stanaland of Okeechobee who snagged the biggest fish, weighing in at 9.97 lbs. The March
for the Babies was scheduled for March 12 at Flagler Park in downtown
Okeechobee. For more info., visit www.marchforbabies.org.

he’s a Wendy’s High School Heisman
state finalist, four-year varsity letterman
and scholar-athlete in three different
sports, two-time athlete of the month,
member of the National Honor Society, nominee for Miss Brahman, and Rotary Student of
the Month. But if there’s one accolade that defines Okeechobee High School senior LeAnna
Cotton, it’s her nomination for the National
High School Spirit of Sport Award.
Created by the National Federation of State
High School Associations, the award honors
individuals who have “gone beyond the normal
everyday expectations of assisting others within
the school or community” or have “overcome
some sort of adversity or challenging circumstances.”
While both descriptions apply equally to Cotton, it is the latter that makes her accomplishments truly remarkable. The 17-year-old excels
in sports and academics, has put in more than
350 hours of community service and has held
a job at Winn-Dixie since she was 14. She does
all this despite the condition she has had since
the age of five — Crohn’s disease.
At OHS, LeAnna has played on the varsity soc-

26 |

Spring 2011 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

cer, softball and volleyball teams. She won the
Purple Bat Award in softball (for batting average), was captain and “Best Offensive Player”
on the soccer team, and captain and MVP of
the volleyball team (as well as multiple recordsholder). She helped the volleyball team win its
first district championship in 10 years, and was
on the softball team when it took the district
title during her freshman and junior years.
“I live as normal a life as possible without allowing others to know there is anything different about me,” Cotton said. “Because I do this,
people are shocked to hear I have a disease, and
the first thing they say is, ‘What is that?’”
What it is, is a “chronic (ongoing) disorder
that causes inflammation of the digestive or
gastrointestinal (GI) tract,” according to the
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Its
symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea,
weight loss, skin rashes and arthritis, to name
a few. Crohn’s is generally thought to be an
autoimmune disease, and it is not uncommon
for Crohn’s sufferers to have other conditions
as well. For Cotton, that includes cluster migraines, rapid airway disease, skin allergies, kidney problems and scoliosis. But it was Crohn’s
that put her in the hospital for a week during

LeAnna is an outstanding
young lady who
represents OHS and
Okeechobee with an
amazing will to achieve.
She has overcome
great obstacles to
accomplish the
goals she has set forth
in her life and I am very
proud of her and her
determination.â&#x20AC;?
- Wendy Padgett,
OHS guidance counselor

www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com Spring 2011 |

27

her eighth-grade year. No surgery
was needed, but it was a trying experience for a young athlete to have a
year before starting high school.
Because the symptoms of Crohn’s
disease are mostly invisible to other people, those who have it often
must make others aware of their situation. For Cotton and her mother
Karen, that means informing school
administrators and teachers, and
hoping they will understand. Fortunately, that most often has been the
case.

And to make matters worse, many
people with Crohn’s disease experience rapid weight loss, meaning they
have to eat more than normal — and
go through that much more pain.
LeAnna learned at an early age the
challenges of having a disease most
people know little or nothing about.

Instead, LeAnna reserves that special
treatment for others, having been involved in a number of service projects through the NHS and helping
out with Toys for Tots, and at local
elementary and middle schools.

“Most of her teachers have been
spectacular,” Karen said, noting that
LeAnna is enrolled in the school’s
homebound program, which allows
her to work from home on days when
her Crohn’s is acting up. “At the beginning of each year, I would talk to
her teachers and tell them what she
has, not to ask for special treatment,
but to let them know if she needs to
use the restroom. Everyone in the
school system was really accommodating.”
Part of what makes Crohn’s especially
difficult are the social ramifications.
The symptoms are difficult enough
to deal with at home, where there’s a
bathroom readily available and time
to relax. But Crohn’s flares can happen at any time and any place, and
that makes otherwise routine activities unnecessarily challenging.
For most people, dining out is a
pleasurable experience; the only
tough decision they face is whether
to choose the restaurant’s “healthy
options” or the higher-calorie items.
But for those with Crohn’s disease,
food can be their worst enemy, causing not only discomfort upon ingestion but severe pain later on. Bathroom visits can be just as painful.
28 | Spring 2011

OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

Her speech was very personal and
heartfelt, offering a detailed account
of what it’s like to be in her shoes.
Her speech won the contest. If it
can be encapsulated in a single passage, it’s the following: “Probably the
worst part of having this disease as
a child is that you don’t want to be
looked at or treated differently.”

She also is involved with Florida
Community Health Centers, organizing, distributing and collecting
items for needy families, from backto-school supplies to Thanksgiving
baskets, as well as helping with car
washes, Christmas with Santa and
other fundraisers.

“Making others
feel better as
others have made
me feel better
in time of
need is my life’s
ambition.”
So when it came time for her to
choose a topic for the countywide
Tropicana Speech Contest, LeAnna,
then a sixth-grader, spoke about
growing up with Crohn’s disease.

LeAnna’s sense of civic duty was instilled at an early age. Karen was a
member of the service sorority Beta
Sigma Phi and had LeAnna assist
in delivering Christmas presents to
needy children. “Especially in her
condition, it makes it more of a priority, knowing there is so much you
can give and seeing other people who
need things,” Karen said.
With her mom coaching a Big Lake
Juniors volleyball team, LeAnna became involved as well. “Last year, she
was helping out with a 10-U team,
teaching them how to spike,” Karen
recalled. “A little girl in the first grade
who was really athletic told LeAnna,
‘I want to be like you when I grow
up.’ Moments like that that make it
worth your while.”
LeAnna said she has many adults
to thank over the years, though two

stand out in particular. “One coach
that stands out more than the rest
is Heather Stillians, ‘Coach Red,’”
LeAnna said. “She was the assistant
softball coach for my freshman,
sophomore and junior years. Coach
Red was the motherly type, and I
was very comfortable approaching
her with any problems, knowing
that she was very caring and nurturing. Not only was she there for me
on the field, but she also took an interest in my education and became
my homebound teacher at the high
school.”
In that role, Stillians kept in contact
with LeAnna’s teachers and professors and made sure that when LeAnna was out for an illness or doctor’s
appointments, that she received all
her notes and assignments to avoid
falling behind.
“To this day, Heather is a very important person in my life and someone that I will never be able to thank
enough for all her help, understanding and love,” LeAnna said.
She also credits OHS guidance counselor Wendy Padgett for going above
and beyond, both professionally and
as a friend. “Even though she has over
400 students in my grade to accommodate, she always has time for me
no matter how thin she is spread,”
LeAnna said. “I feel very comfortable talking to her about any issues,
including my health issues that I do
not discuss with hardly anyone.”
If LeAnna’s teachers and coaches
have gone out of their way for her,
there’s a good reason; her results in
the classroom and on the ball field
speak for themselves. In addition to
her involvement in the NHS, LeAnna is also a member of Health Occupations Students of America. Her

www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com Spring 2011 |

29

desire is to go to Capital University
in Columbus, Ohio where she plans
on majoring in nursing and playing
on the school’s softball and volleyball
teams. In the meantime, LeAnna has
been doing clinicals at Okeechobee
Health Care Facility and taking dual
enrollment classes at Indian River
State College.

weeks and had to go into a neonatal [intensive care unit],” LeAnna
said, recalling the birth of her niece
Hannah. “After she was born, I saw
all those tiny babies. That’s when I
knew what I wanted to do.”

“LeAnna is an outstanding young
lady who represents OHS and
Okeechobee with an amazing will to
achieve,” Padgett said. “She has overcome great obstacles to accomplish
the goals she has set forth in her life
and I am very proud of her and her
determination.”

As to what type of nurse she wants
to be, LeAnna hasn’t yet decided.
“Whether becoming a neonatal
nurse, a surgical nurse or a nurse
anesthetist, my desire is to join
the special group of healthcare
professionals — nurses,” LeAnna
said. “Making others feel better
as others have made me feel better in time of need is my life’s
ambition.”

Despite LeAnna’s many years as a
patient, her interest in nursing stems
from something else entirely. “My
older sister Nikki had a baby at 30

And ambition is the first step
toward a successful future. In
that regard, her prognosis is very
good. O

-OBF President Shawn Henderson

Bienvenidos!

Stop by today
& taste our
Authentic
Mexican Food
that will keep
you coming
back for more!

Ninth Annual Top of the Lake BBQ Affair
The ninth annual Top of the Lake BBQ Affair was held Jan.
21 and 22 at the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center. The event
featured local and national barbecue teams competing to
earn trophies for best mouthwatering barbecue. This contest
was a qualifier for the national Jack Danielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s championship
and a part of the Florida BBQ Association Triple Crown.
(Right) Terry Burroughs (center) presents the
trophy to the Homeboy Grand Champion,
Heatin & Beatin BBQ Team.

Homeboy Reserve Grand Champion Hilljack BBQ Team.

Grand Champion Bubba Q Team.

Okeechobee
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Top of the Lake Art & Music Fest
Okeechobee Main Street’s fifth annual Top of the Lake Art &
Music Fest, held Feb. 26 and 27, showcased two days of fine art
by national artists, as well as local and student artists. Music was
in the air on both days, featuring a variety of contemporary and
jazz music. The art fest ended on a bright sunny day with a concert in the park by returning performer Billy Bones and his son,
Jaytee Trapani.
The Okeechobee Main Street arts and cultural committee’s mission is to bring the finer arts to the community. For more photos
and information about this event visit www.mainstreetokeechobee.com.
1
2

3

1. Local artist Brad Phares won Best of Show.
2. Top of the Lake Art Fest Committee: (L-R)
Rafael Pacheco, Toni Doyle, Kathleen Shatto,
Bridgette Waldau and Maureen Burroughs.
3. Florida Highwaymen artist Ray McLendon
works on an original oil painting.
4. Alyssa Baird, Ashlyn Lafferty and Emma
Baird listen as Chantel Lacerte of Plaster Playtime encourages their creativity.
5. Emma Rose won Best of Show in the student
division.
6. Billy Bones entertains the crowd that gathered
in the park on Sunday.
7. Jaytee Trapani, 13, son of Billy Bones wows
the crowd with his incredible talent.
8. Saturday’s entertainment began with the
music of Scott Benge.

Taking Dance to the Next Level!
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Spring 2011 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

O

Okeechobee

At Home

With Terri and Basil Coule
BY Deborah Welky O PHOTOS BY Felicia Maxwell
ertine marble provides flooring
throughout most of the home. In
the foyer, living and dining rooms,
the effect is softened through the
use of hand-loomed silk area rugs
done in a needlepoint tapestry
style.

With swaying palms, tiki huts and
the clear blue water, one would
think this home is in Key West
or the Bahamas. Yet this islandthemed getaway pops up where
you might least expect it — inside
Okeechobee’s Blue Heron Golf &
Country Club.

“I got them at Hilda Flack Interiors in West Palm Beach,” Terri
said. “The largest one was originally over my budget, but I didn’t
care. I fell in love with it.”

Owners Terri and Basil Coule
built the 5,200-square-foot home
five and a half years ago when
they realized that the coastal cities
with which they were familiar had
grown far too cluttered for them.
“Terri grew up in West Palm
Beach, and I grew up in Boston
when those places were rather
simple,” Basil said. “We decided
to move to Okeechobee early in
2000 because it was close to what
we remembered as kids. And if we
want the faster pace of city life, it’s
only an hour away.”

(Above) Home owners Terri and Basil Coule.
(Left) The living room features the honed golden chisel-edge
travertine marble provides flooring.

“I love the water and tropical settings,”
Terri said. “I’d rather be outside than
in. My hobby is landscaping. I love to
play in the dirt.”

fall pool and hot tub where Terri’s tropical vignettes play out. An island rises
from the center of the pool and a small
bridge leads visitors from the screenedin section out to Taylor Creek where
their 17-foot boat is moored to a twostory composite decking with hidden
fasteners and plenty of parking for jet
skis. Yet another island – not owned
by the Coules but landscaped with tallgrowing bamboo by Terri nonetheless –
provides privacy.

It shows, particularly around the water-

Inside, honed golden chisel-edge trav-

Upon entering the foyer, visitors can
walk straight through the sliding hideaway walls of the living room to the
3,000-square-foot pool area. Both
inside and out, palm trees sway, greenery abounds and comfy rattan furniture
implores one to sit and relax.

A Marge Carson hand-carved Balinese chest of drawers and a woodburning cut coral stone fireplace
dominate opposite walls of the
living room while, in the dining
room, a stunning brass chandelier
attracts all the attention. The fixture features an unusual pagodalike shape while four flag-waving
figures wearing tri-cornered hats
add to its whimsy.

The dining table seats up to 10, necessary as the Coules are parents to six:
Reagan, Brian, Ellen, Chelsea, Catherine and Willie. A “movie room” with
flat-screen TV and lots of bright toys is
often devoted to grandchild Kira, 3.
“When she’s here, all we do is play,”
Terri said.
For day-to-day meals, the extended
family can gather in the kitchen at what
Terri calls her “Lord’s Supper” table;
an expansive piece of furniture made
of wood reclaimed from the floors of
www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com Spring 2011 |

37



(Above) The front of the house with Chicago brick defines the porch area and borders the
driveway on both sides.

(Above) The 17-foot boat is moored to a two-story composite decking with hidden fasteners and plenty of parking for jet skis.
(Below right) Upon entering the foyer, visitors can walk straight through the sliding hideaway walls of the living room to this 3,000-square-foot pool area.
(Left and inset) The kitchen is beautifully utilitarian, with stainless steel appliances, dark
green butterfly granite and honey-glazed maple cabinets. An island with prep sink is
where Basil usually stations himself during family gatherings.

(Below) This tiki bar fits right in among the
water and tropical settings of the pool.

European rail cars. “I love this table,”
she said.
The rest of the kitchen is beautifully
utilitarian, with stainless steel appliances, dark green butterfly granite and
honey-glazed maple cabinets. An island
with prep sink is where Basil usually stations himself during family gatherings.
“That’s my little space when everyone’s
in the kitchen,” he said. “No one’s in
my way.”
Down the hall, the master suite promises still more space, as well as serenity.
The crown moulding surrounding the
tray ceiling conceals soft lighting and
every light in the room is on a dimmer.
Wide plank all-heart pine floors in the
bedroom were installed by Basil himself, with a penny-edge gap added to
enhance the natural look of the wood.
“I wanted it to have a discernible join so
I eased the edges to create a shadow,” he
explained. “My version of refinishing is
to have it back to what God intended.”

A palm-topped four-poster bed is
wrapped in wispy gauze curtains, its soft
look offset by a sisal rug and a sturdy
iron bench upholstered in zebra-striped
fabric. A bamboo stick lamp, occasional
chair and unmatched bedside tables add
to the casual air of the room.
Terri never hired a decorator, preferring
to do most of the home’s interior design
work herself. Her latest project, a massage alcove located off the hallway to the
master bath, was her first experiment in
applying Venetian plaster with a trowel.
“It turned out so well that now I want
to do the whole house,” she said.
In the bathroom, a black clawfoot tub
takes center stage while a shower/steam
room occupies one corner. A black
granite-topped vanity with double sink
was repurposed from its former role as a
buffet in the dining room of a previous
residence. Two chairs and a four-panel
screen could tell a similar tale.

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39

The bathroom’s polished beige travertine marble floor, which sports
eye-catching black granite diamond
embellishments, was completed with
the help of Terri’s brother who is in the
marble business. “I do like this section
of the house,” Terri said. “Between the
steam shower, the massage table and the
bed, I don’t need much.”
“Everything here that’s of any artistic or creative bent, it’s all Terri,” Basil
said. “I’ll take no credit.” More of Terri’s landscape work is in evidence at
the front of the house. Chicago brick
defines the porch area and borders the
driveway on both sides. Working hurricane shutters are easy to use and add
another layer of protection.
(Above) In the bathroom, a black clawfoot tub
takes center stage.

(Above) A black granite-topped vanity with double
sink was repurposed from its former role as a buffet
in the dining room of a previous residence.
(Below) The master bedroom with a palm-topped
four-poster bed is wrapped in wispy gauze curtains.

“We get over to West Palm Beach about
once every two weeks,” Basil said. “And
as soon as we get on the Beeline Highway to come back home, we get a sense
of simplicity, of how life was really
meant to be lived.”
Basil said he thinks everyone should experience building their own house from
their own image without any interference.
“It’s like painting on a clean canvas,” he
said. “And there’s a lot of canvas yet to
be painted in Okeechobee for anyone
who wants to create their own masterpiece.” O

to the medical staff of Raulerson Hospital. Dr. Flood received his medical degree at
Columbia University in New York, NY. and he completed his residency at Fitzsimmons
Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Flood offers a full range of orthopaedic
services and sees patients of all ages.

Dr. Tinoco is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a
member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She completed her Family
Medicine training at Rush-Copely Medical Center in Aurora Illinois in 2009.

Dr. Villarreal is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family
Physicians. He completed his training at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and
completed his intern at the Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas. Dr. J Villarreal’s
primary focus is on quality care in Family Medicine.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Day Celebration
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration took place Monday, Jan. 17 in downtown Okeechobee. The day began with a parade
and continued in Flagler Park with speeches, songs, prayer and the
music of steel drums. The celebration concluded with a march to the
Douglas Brown Center where refreshments were served.

Keepin’ It
Cowboy
The Old West lives on in Okeechobee’s Gordie Peer
BY Raye Deusinger O PHOTOS BY Sandra Pearce
It has been many years since the golden
age of the Western. TV shows such as
Gunsmoke and Rawhide are now as
much a part of history as the eras they
depicted. But for Gordie Peer, who
acted as a stunt performer in Western
TV shows and movies, the spirit of
the genre is very much alive… and in
Okeechobee.
A colorful, often impertinent but thoroughly charming man, Peer is a wonderful storyteller, chronicler of western lore
and collector of western paraphernalia.
With 20 acres in Okeechobee, Peer
works his ranch, raises longhorn cattle,
entertains at many county events, performs educational shows at local schools,
occasionally travels the country to make
a personal appearance, and once a year
puts on the Ropers Get Together and
Cowboy Schoolhouse.
During his childhood, Peer spent time
on the Onondaga reservation outside of
Syracuse, N.Y. He doesn’t reveal much
about his family except to say that on
the reservation every child is the child
of all. Peer’s life is an amalgamation of
all he has learned since he and a friend
ventured out looking for something to
do when he was about 11.
A freight train passing through the reservation slowed to a stop and the two
inquisitive boys just had to investigate.
Coming upon an open boxcar filled
with hay, they climbed aboard. Soon
the train pulled out and when next it
stopped, Peer and his friend got out and
were caught by a man who told them if

they were going to ride, they had to pay.
The boys were told to unload the hay
and help set up for the traveling Wild
West show the train was carrying. After
a few days the man put them back on a
train going the other way, told them to
get off at the next stop and go home.
But the experience made Peer realize
he had a new home, and for the next
60 years, he crossed the country working Wild West shows and honing his
talents as a cowboy, ranch hand, entertainer, movie stuntman and expert with

The Lone Ranger
ropes, knives, guns and trick riding. He
even served two years with the Marine
Corps during WWII. His natural ability with guns led to a lifelong friendship
with Clayton Moore, best known as
title character in the TV series The Lone
Ranger. Peer explained how this came to
be.

Lacrosse was a popular game originated by North American Indians. It
was also popular in Canada where a
young man named Harold J. Smith,
a Mohawk, became an expert. During
a break from traveling, Peer returned
to the Onondaga reservation and met
Smith, who would visit the reservation
and play lacrosse with the young men.
Smith wanted to be famous and bought
white tennis shoes so people would be
able to see how fast he could run. The
announcer would call out, “There goes
silverheels.” Soon Smith adopted the
name Jay Silverheels, better known on
TV and in movies as Tonto, sidekick to
the Lone Ranger. Once, when Clayton
Moore was in town for a show, Smith
urged him to meet this kid (Peer) who
could teach him how to better handle
his guns. Moore obliged, and soon became friends with Peer. That friendship
lasted until Moore’s final days, with the
two last speaking to one another a week
before Moore died.
Peer’s first contact with Okeechobee came when he had been traveling
throughout Florida with a Wild West
show. He didn’t want to go back to the
cold New York weather, so he got in his
pickup, with a trailer in tow, to see a
little bit more of Florida. Arriving in
Okeechobee, he saw a bus station that
was on the north side of Highway 70.
There was a restaurant in the other half
of the building, the Village Square, and
he was hungry but had only 16 cents
in his pocket. Peer went into the restaurant, put the 16 cents on the counter and asked for as much breakfast as

it would buy. The owner, “Grandma
Lamb,” asked what kind of eggs he
wanted and whether he wanted toast or
a biscuit and did he want bacon, ham or
sausage. When the food came she took
the dime and nickel, leaving the penny
and said, “I can’t stand to see a cowboy
broke.” Peer stayed there about three
months before hitting the road again.
In the early 1950s, Florida presented a
show at the New York Coliseum touting
the state’s cattle industry. Peer was hired
for the promotion, along with a cattleman named Bud Clemons, brother of
Okeechobee’s Pete Clemons, owner of
the Okeechobee Livestock Market. At
the time, both were living in Colorado.
Together they went to New Jersey, rented a horse and a cow, put them on stage
and began promoting Florida cattle.
While in New York Peer was on the TV
shows The Big Payoff and I’ve Got a Secret, and even appeared on the Tonight
Show with Jack Paar, where Peer demonstrated rope tricks.
Throughout his career, Peer was acquainted with many well-known actors.
He helped with the TV series Rawhide,
which ran from 1959 to 1965 and featured Eric Fleming as trail boss Gil Favor and Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates.
He appeared with Fleming in Miami
where they put on a fake fight and Peer
recalled, “I got knocked on my butt.”
Peer honed his knife-throwing skills
when he worked with Chi Chi White
Cloud, the world’s fastest knife thrower.
In those days, the thrill of the show was
watching the skill of the thrower as he
performed with a live target. Peer performed such an act as well. After one
particular show, a woman wrote to Peer
that her son emulated Peer’s act, using
his sister as a target. The boy threw a
paring knife at her and struck her in the
throat. While the girl recovered, the incident led Peer to end his practice of using live targets. “The modern challenge

The Tobacco Free Partnership
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The Tobacco-Free Partnership of Okeechobee County
is a membership group of local adults and youth
dedicated to limited tobacco use and creating a
tobacco free environment.
The Partnership is recognized by the State of Florida
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“The Ropers Get
Together is not
a show; it is a
school. “I want
them to learn
how to do things
the right way.
is to develop the skill without using a
person,” he said.

- Rob Levine, CEO of the Palm
Beaches-Treasure Coast Region
of the American Red Cross.

Peer worked on the set of Gunsmoke,
and the sets of movie actors Lash LaRue
and Tom Mix, Roy Rogers and Gene
Autry. Peer had Rogers’ phone number
and stayed in touch with him until Rogers died; Peer still stays in touch with

Rogers’ son and grandson. Tim McCoy,
with whom Peer did a whip act, told him,
“Cowboy, you fit the word incredible.”
Peer even has the original three-reel
35mm movie film of Larue, King of the
Bullwhip, made in 1950.
Although Peer’s job as a stuntman saw
him working alongside countless TV
and film stars, it didn’t offer much in
the way of money. Because of this, Peer
decided to learn about ranching. From
1969 to 1972, Peer held shows at Storytown in Lake George, N.Y., and created the Cowboy Schoolhouse where he
performed and taught trick roping and
horseback-riding trick skills.
Nowadays, Peer demonstrates his skills
at area schools, at events like National
Day of the Cowboy, and tells his tales
at the annual Ropers Get Together at
his ranch north of town. The event is
billed as a “rip-roaring good family time
in a ranch setting with long horn cattle,

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52 | Spring 2011

OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

“The Ropers [Get Together] is not a
show; it is a school,” Peer said. “I want
them to learn how to do things the right
way. I don’t make a profit from it, but the
monies collected pay for all the meals,
which include real cowboy breakfasts
and dinners for three days. I even serve
pancakes branded with my registered
VP brand — the only branded pancakes
in the world.”
After touring Peer’s cowboy museum
and seeing the old tools, harnesses and
memorabilia, from the Army saddle
saved from the man who raised him to
the rawhide rope owned by Will Rogers,
one has to wonder what will happen to
all of it once he is gone — the Smithsonian, perhaps? Not likely; Peer would
rather handle it his own way: “Gonna
have a big campfire.” O

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wild orange trees, campfire and entertainment.” It features trick roping; whip
cracking; gun, knife and hatchetthrowing; archery; yodeling; horse roping; a Western museum; silent auction;
instruction; contests; movies and more.
People come from all over the country
not only to participate, but to teach.

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Okeechobee, FL 34974

863-763-3566

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FL 34974.
Julie Turner is an Okeechobee native who has raised her family here because she loves Okeechobee.
She is familiar with the community, its history, and uniqueness – qualities which enables her to help
current or prospective residents find the perfect home and neighborhood for their needs. Julie has a
B.S. from Florida State University and has been a Realtor since 2003. Julie is currently the President of
the Okeechobee County Board of Realtors (OCBR).
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can count on United Country - MidFlorida Realty to provide you with quality, professional service.

The Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee County hosted a kickoff event
Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Williamson Conference & Education Center at Indian River State College. There were 150 local business people in attendance.
Executive Director Brian Cartland and board members laid out the business
plan for this newly formed chamber. For membership information, call (863)
467-6246 or visit www.okeechobeebusiness.com.
(Left) Chamber President Terry Burroughs speaks to the large audience about the
mission of the newly formed chamber.

1

2
1. The standing-room-only crowd listens with
anticipation as they learn about what the chamber can do for the community.

Lake Okeechobee

2. Treasurer Mike Costopoulos of Costopoulos &
Helton P.A. speaks about his duties on the board.
3. Chamber President-elect J.D. Mixon addresses
the audience about his responsibilities and goals.

Fifth Annual Rylee’s Hope Cookoff
Rylee’s Hope Chili Cookoff was held Saturday, Feb. 19 at Flagler Park
in downtown Okeechobee. Judges this year were Myron Jackson, Dondi
Byrd, Rachael Striefel and Albert Schmidt. Proceeds from this event benefit Rylee’s Hope Inc., a nonprofit ministry formed to help with the basic,
financial, emotional and spiritual needs of families that currently have
or have had babies in the neo-natal intensive care unit, and families that
have experienced the unexpected birth and/or death of a baby. For more
info., visit www.ryleeshope.org.
(Left) First-place winners Buzzards Roost Café.
1. Highland Pest Control (L-R): Mary, Ron and
Danny Trice, Pat, Bobby and Keith Hickman.
2. The Cowboys Team (L-R): Sheryl Williams, Jim
McCoin and Renee McCoin.
3. Rylee’s Hope founders Lee and Shana Jolicoeur.
4. Jessica and Matt Imse, with their children Mason
and Piper, speak about how Rylee’s Hope helped
them through the loss of their son Elliot.

Waters Edge is just minutes from downtown shopping,
restaurants, golf, polo, the casino, movies and the rodeo at
the fairgrounds. It is only a short distance to I-95 and the East Coast of
Florida with major malls, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world,
sport fishing, restaurants and theme parks.

“Red is for Love” Gala
The second annual Red Cross Gala was held on Feb. 12 at
the KOA Convention Center. Called the “Red is for Love”
gala, the black-tie optional event fit perfectly into the Valentine’s Day theme. Proceeds from this event benefits the
American Red Cross in Okeechobee. For information on
the American Red Cross, call (863) 763-2844.

“No writers retreat for
me. I’m most creative
in my own backyard on
Taylor Creek in
Okeechobee.”

60 |

Winter 2010 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

Write at Home

Author Jan Day Fehrman
found the perfect setting in Okeechobee
BY Jason Budjinski O PHOTOS BY RAFAEL PACHECO

Novelists in need of inspiration sometimes look for it in a change of scenery, typically somewhere far removed from the
hustle and bustle of the daily grind. They go on retreats to get away from the many distractions found at home. But for
Okeechobee author and library advocate Jan Day Fehrman, there’s no need to travel out of town to find peace; all the
makings of a perfect retreat can be found right at home.
“No writers retreat for me,” she said. “I’m most creative in my own backyard on Taylor Creek in Okeechobee, where her
husband Alan created a paradise. It provides peace and inspiration with its natural beauty. I like to sit on the back porch
and watch Taylor Creek flow by, listen to the birds, and the ruffle of the wind through the trees. It’s my favorite place to
create.”
Day Fehrman should know, having lived in New York City, worked in Los Angeles and spent years traveling back and
forth to Europe working for an airline, as well as living in a few other towns from Hawaii to Homestead before settling
down in Okeechobee. But now, 11 years and five published children’s picture books later, Day Fehrman can’t imagine
living — or writing — anywhere else.
Day Fehrman was born in Cuba, Illinois, a small mining and farming town to Bernice and Lewis Day. The eldest of four
children, Jan claims her brothers and sisters got all the science and math genes while a few literary genes were thrown her
way. Her brother John is a doctor; sister Susan, a nursing instructor; and brother Chuck, a retired electrical engineer. Jan
said her daughter Alicia, a registered nurse at Orlando Regional Hospital, inherited her family’s science and literary genes,
having published her poetry while in high school.
Poetry is where Jan got her start as well, during her college years. Her poems have been published in the Louisville Review,
Huerfano, Bamboo Ridge Anthology, as well as other publications. She was a co-winner for Best Original Teleplay for All’s
Fair at the Hawaii International Film Festival. Her children’s play A Piece of Cherry Sky won first place in a citywide competition in New Orleans, and her short story “Blue Tamales” was published in Tropic, the now defunct Sunday supplement of the Miami Herald.
Over the years, Jan’s career has been as varied in location as vocation. After graduating from Drake University in Des
Moines, Iowa with a major in sociology, she immediately moved to New York City and became a caseworker for the
New York City Department of Welfare. Two years later she took a job as a flight attendant with Trans World Airlines.
On a flight to London, she met her husband Alan Fehrman, who also worked for the airlines. The couple soon moved to
Tucson, Ariz., where Alan obtained a master’s degree in soils science from the University of Arizona while Jan commuted
to work at LAX in Los Angeles. Their next destination was Hawaii, where Alan took a job as an agronomist and their
daughter Alicia was born. The family moved to Louisiana six years later, followed by a move back west to New Mexico
and again to Arizona. 
www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com Spring 2011 |

It was while living in Louisiana that Jan
made her entrance into the book publishing industry, albeit on the sales side,
working as a sales representative for Pelican Publishing Company. She worked
there for 20 years, three years at company headquarters and 17 years from
her home offices in New Mexico, Arizona and Florida. Her last position was
national accounts manager in which she
was responsible for selling to Barnes &
Noble and Borders buyers at headquarters. In 2000, Jan and Alan moved to
Okeechobee when Alan took a position
with the South Florida Water Management District.
Jan retired from her regular job at Pelican Publishing Company in 2006 to
spend more time writing. Between 2001
and 2009, she published five children’s
picture books with Pelican (as Jan Day):
The Pirate, Pink (2001); Pirate Pink and
Treasures of the Reef (2003); Kissimmee
Pete, Cracker Cow Hunter (2005); Kissimmee Pete and the Hurricane (2008);
and The World’s Greatest Explorer (2009).
Janeen Mason of Stuart was the illustrator for all five. The Pirate, Pink was selected for the Children’s Book Council’s
Children’s Choices 2002 program.
Before closing the chapter on her time
as a children’s author, Jan saw the start
of a new chapter in her career in 2007.
This was the year she started writing for
Okeechobee The Magazine and began
work on her first mystery novel, She
Cracked the Whip. The book is finished,
though Jan is shopping around for a
company to publish it. Meanwhile, she’s
already at work on her second mystery,
tentatively titled Postcards From The
Dead. Both books are set in a fictional
town in rural Central Florida.
In addition to her writing, Jan serves
on the Friends of Okeechobee Library
Board of Directors, is a facilitator of
the Friends of the Okeechobee Library
Book Club, is on the external advisory
board of the Indian River State College Lifelong Learning Institute and has
been a peer leader for classes in writing.

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Spring 2011 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE



www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com Spring 2011 |

63

Okeechobee is such a great place for
a writer. It offers such a beautiful setting
with its lake and creek, its history and
interesting people. I think my moving
days are over.”
Needless to say, Jan is a big supporter of
the library, referring to it as the “cultural
center of Okeechobee.”
“The library meets the needs of many
different types of people: those who need
to use the computers to apply for jobs,
those looking for a wide selection of
books, those who enjoy cultural events
as well as programs for young people,”
Jan said. “Library Director Kresta King
and her staff are always thinking of ways
to make the library better. This is a good
thing because Okeechobee County Library sees between 550 to 750 people
come through their doors each day de-

For More Information or to Request an Application, call 863.462.5865
64 | Spring 2011

OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

pending on the season.”
In her capacity as a Friends of the
Okeechobee Library board member,
Jan helps publicize events. “With a library like ours, there’s never a need to be
bored or wonder what to do next,” she
said. “And the Friends always appreciate
new members.”
In 2003, Jan and Vicky Kilroy formed
the Friends of the Okeechobee Library
Book Club. “I am so impressed with the
quality and depth of discussion,” Jan
said, stressing the high level of enthusiasm among club members. “I always
look forward to our meetings. It’s a
great way to share insights and exchange
ideas. We welcome new members.”
Jan also enjoys exchanging ideas with
other writers. Because there wasn’t an
existing writers group, she founded the
Okeechobee Writers League with fellow
author Lesley Diehl. “[It’s] the best writers group I’ve ever been in,” Jan said,
noting that the group recently published
an anthology of short stories, historical
pieces and poems titled Headwaters.
In addition to her involvement with the
library, Jan is a big supporter of education. For the past five years, Jan has
served on the external advisory board
of the Lifelong Learning Institute at Indian River State College, where she has
been a peer leader for classes in writing.
The institute offers classes tailored to
people over 50 who want to continue
learning and sharing their interests with
others. Classes are held at the Williamson Conference and Educational Center
at IRSC’s Dixon-Hendry campus (2229
NW Ninth Ave., Okeechobee). 

This spring, Jan is leading a class on book
and film adaptations with Hazel Parnis.
“It’s a great way to learn something new,
meet interesting people and continue to
grow your ‘brain power,’” she said.
Ultimately, Jan seems to have found the
right balance of keeping busy yet evenly
paced. And she found it right here in
Okeechobee.
“Okeechobee is such a great place for
a writer,” Day Fehrman said. “It offers
such a beautiful setting with its lake and
creek, its history and interesting people.
I think my moving days are over.”
For information on purchasing Jan’s
books, call Pelican Publishing Company
at (800) 843-1724 or visit www.pelicanpub.com. For more information about
events at the Okeechobee library, call
(863) 763-3536. To learn more about
classes at the IRSC Lifelong Learning
Institute, call (772) 462-7880. O

Waldau’s Junior Golf
Annual Junior/Adult Tournament
Waldau’s Junior Golf held its annual Junior/Adult Golf Tournament on Jan. 9 at Okeechobee Golf and Country Club. It was a
beautiful day of golf that brought junior and adults together in
a two-person, best ball scramble. Photos of all the winners can
be found on Facebook and all of Waldau’s Junior Golf events are
posted on its website at www.floridajuniorgolf.org.
(Above, L-R) Two teams tied for Championship Flight
First place. Kyle and Bubba Mullins and Richard
Donegan and Jim Waldau.

First place, second Flight winners: Jorge Fulleda and son
Daniel.

First place, third Flight winners: Kenny Buckner and Neal Crawford
Hank Raulerson and daughter (kneeling) watch the line of Kutter
Hannah.
Crawford’s putt.

Golfing team Kodi Stephen and Juanita White
wait for the tournament to start.

By Capt. Michael Shellen
Whether you are a resident of Okeechobee or just visiting, it’s a great time to
fish Lake Okeechobee. For a year now,
we’ve been crowing about the tremendous fishing on the lake in local publications and online, too. Finally, Lake
Okeechobee is receiving national exposure, thanks to the FLW Tour event
held on the lake recently.
The pro anglers found Lake Okeechobee to be everything they had ever heard
and/or dreamed of. Record catches of
bass had the professional fishermen
singing the praises of the massive lake,
with heavy five-fish limits being caught
starting with the first day of the event
and continuing throughout the week. A
five-fish limit that weighed 35 pounds
staggered the crowd at weigh-in, proving to be a precursor of what was to
come.
Ultimately, young Brandon McMillan
of Belle Glade claimed the title with a
four-day total weighing 106 pounds,
making Lake Okeechobee the first lake
to yield over 100 pounds in FLW history. There were many giant bass caught
during the tournament, the largest
weighing in at just over 12 pounds. Is
Lake Okeechobee deserving of the title
“Best Bass Fishery in the United States”?
I think so, but I am prejudiced. I fell in
love with this beautiful giant of a lake
the first time I ever fished her.
Springtime is prime time to fish for every
species in the lake. Bass, bluegill, shell
cracker and cat fish are all looking for
an easy meal. As the water warms, blue
gill and shell cracker will move into the
very skinny water and create spawning beds. Once located, it is possible to
catch as many of the tasty pan fish as
you want to eat. Anglers from all over

Lake Okeechobee

Capt. Michael Shellen

the U.S. come to fish for the giant-size
shell cracker when they are spawning.
Known for very tasty meat and a great
fight, shell cracker are many anglers’
favorite table fare. Cat fish can be found
in the Kissimmee River in deep water
as well as in the lake. Red worms or cut
bait will both work when trying to catch
these prized fish.
Spend some time on the Big “O,” fishing, sight-seeing or even bird watching; it’s all available and waiting for
you. We have the best fishing guides on
the lake here in the City of Okeechobee, not to mention the nicest most
modern airboats to take you on a thrilling ride through Okeechobee’s massive
expanse of marshland. If you’re looking for a place to spend a few nights,
we have modern inns or old-school fish
camps; you decide. When it comes to
food, you can get breakfast at 5 a.m.
before your day of adventure or dine on
steak, barbecue or fish once the sun sets
and you finally slow down. We are more
than just a cow town, although the gentlemanly manners of the local ranchers influence a lifestyle you can’t help
but enjoy. Down-home work ethic and
friendly folks make it more than a destination — a place to settle for a great
life. O
Capt. Michael Shellen
Shellen Guide Service

Okeechobee County
Family Health & Safety Expo
The fourth annual Okeechobee County Family Health &
Safety Expo was held Jan. 29 at the Okeechobee County
Agri-Civic Center. Vendors offered health screenings and
safety tips, giveaways, demonstrations, displays, fun activities and entertainment throughout the day. Local fire-rescue
and safety units were on hand for demonstrations and information. There were approximately 3,000 people in attendance this year.

(Above) Kids, as well as the
parents, enjoy exploring the
Martin County Life Star
chopper.

Three Okeechobee girls earn college softball scholarships
By Charles M. Murphy, WOKC’s Voice of the Brahmans

T

hree Okeechobee High School
seniors accepted college softball
scholarships in February. Naomi Stevens and Ashtyn Brown will be heading to Indian River State College, and
Courtney Wilson is on her way to Hillsborough Community College.

Wilson and her family celebrated her
big day with a party at Beef O’Brady’s
restaurant in Okeechobee. Wilson said
she can now just play ball and not worry
about her future. “It honestly takes a lot
of the pressure off,” she said. “I’m so
very excited.”

These three girls are the heart of a state
title contender for OHS this year. They
have played softball for years and having
already made their college decisions will
make it easier for them to enjoy their
senior season.

Brown called her decision a dream come
true. She said IRSC has a very good
softball program and has made a lot of
appearances at state championships.

Wilson said she knew Hillsborough was
an awesome school and is very excited to
be going to college there. “I know I got
my job done,” she said. “I worked hard
for 10 years in softball. It is a great feeling to know that hard work paid off.”

She said she also dreamed about going
to college with Stevens, her best friend.
They are often called the “package
deal.”

(Above) Ashtyn Brown
with her dad Russ
Brown at her signing
party at Hammerheads.
(Left) Courtney Wilson
(Below) Naomi Stevens
and her father Darrell
Erts.

“I’ve always wanted to go to college
with Naomi,” Brown said. “This is very
exciting.”

Welcome to
Lake Okeechobee Resort KOA

Summer Pool
and New Golf “Plus”
Memberships
Available
April 1 - Nov.1, 2011

863-763-0231
4276 S. Hwy 441 - Okeechobee

74 |

Spring 2011 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

Stevens said she was so excited at her
signing party at Hammerheads that her
cheeks couldn’t quit twitching because
she was smiling so much. She said she
chose IRSC because she knows a lot of
people there and had worked with their
coach for a while.
“I have big plans for the future,” Stevens said. “I will dedicate my time and
work my hardest. I’m happy and I can’t
wait.”
The Brahman softball girls are the
defending 14-4A champions. The team
lost just one starter from last year’s
squad; it is still a veteran team with
seven seniors. Former Brahman Mary
Huff recently accepted a college scholarship to play for the University of Central Florida. O

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75

AROUND

Okeechobee
Okeechobee Main Street
Mixers

ECO CARE Award

Above, (L-R) Jenny Pung of the Economic Council of
Okeechobee presents the first Community Award Recognizing
Enhancement to Carl and Phyllis Shumate.

Carl and Phyllis Shumate of the Alarm Company recently were presented with the first-ever Community Award
Recognizing Enhancement. They received the award for
voluntarily enhancing the appearance of their business,
located at 919 NW Park Street.
The Economic Council of Okeechobee developed the
quarterly award to acknowledge and promote theÂ beautification that business owners have implemented to
improve the look of the community, realizing that first
impressions and aesthetics are important factors to visitors and potential investors. For more information on
the ECO, call (863) 467-0200.

The following Okeechobee Main Street members held
mixers at their businesses: (top) Raulerson Hospital;
(middle) Law Office of Philip DeBerard and (bottom)
PNC Bank.

The Alarm
Company
building before
renovations
(left) and after
(below).

GILBERT CHEVROLET HOSTS FIRST
CHEVY PRO NIGHT IN 2011
Gilbert Chevrolet hosted the coveted Chevy Pro Night of 2011 on
Jan. 29. Over 300 fishing fans and Chevy enthusiasts came out
to celebrate the start of the 2011 Walmart FLW Tour. The Chevy
Team anglers signed autographs, shared fishing stories and posed for
photos with fans in attendance during the two-hour event at Gilbert Chevrolet.

The VNA of Florida celebrated the grand opening of the Grand Oaks assisted-living facility on Jan. 13. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony,
residents have started moving in to the facility built to house over 40 with a full-time staff including an activities coordinator, chef and clinicians. Located at 203 SE Second St., Grand Oaks is still accepting appointments to tour the facility and has a limited number of units still available. For more information on Grand Oaks visit: www.grandoaks.org.

The Berger Clinic

Fully Stocked Humidors Offering A
Wide Variety of Hand-Rolled Cigars

Visit Us At
Our New Location!

Jay S. Berger, MD
863-467-1117

Cigar Lounge Now Open

Call For Appointment

Okeechobee Medical Park
1713 Hwy 441 N. Suite D
Okeechobee, FL 34972

(Located across the street from the hospital.)

Also Available For Private Rental
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